What is Christian Science?

Christian Science is a Bible-based religion with a focus on the life and teachings of Christ Jesus. It was discovered and founded by Mary Baker Eddy who, after instantly recovering from a life-threatening injury while studying one of Jesus’ healings recorded in the Bible, devoted her life to elucidating and explaining the spiritual laws of God that Jesus practiced. In 1875 she published the first edition of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, which is studied by Christian Scientists as a companion to the Holy Bible. Her purpose in founding the Christian Science church was to “reinstate primitive Christianity and its lost element of healing.”


We believe in one infinite God who is all good and ever-present. Along with our textbook we take the inspired word of the Bible including Christ Jesus’ teachings to understand our relationship with God. With this understanding we learn how to pray effectively to resolve difficult challenges related to health, relationships, financial, employment, and many other personal and global issues.

What are the tenets of Christian Science?

  1. As adherents of Truth, we take the inspired Word of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal Life.

  2. We acknowledge and adore one supreme and infinite God. We acknowledge His Son, one Christ; the Holy Ghost or divine Comforter; and man in God’s image and likeness.

  3. We acknowledge God’s forgiveness of sin in the destruction of sin and the spiritual understanding that casts out evil as unreal. But the belief in sin is punished so long as the belief lasts.

  4. We acknowledge Jesus’ atonement as the evidence of divine, efficacious Love, unfolding man’s unity with God through Christ Jesus the Way-shower; and we acknowledge that man is saved through Christ through Truth, Life, and Love as demonstrated by the Galilean Prophet in healing the sick and overcoming sin and death.

  5. We acknowledge that the crucifixion of Jesus and his resurrection served to uplift faith to understand eternal Life, even the allness of Soul, Spirit, and the nothingness of matter.

  6. And we solemnly promise to watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus; to do unto others as we would have them do unto us; and to be merciful, just, and pure.

– Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, page 496-7

Christian Science Basics

FAQs

Why is it named Christian Science?

A science is something that is repeatable and predictable. The word “Science” refers to the provable laws of God demonstrated by Christ Jesus and discovered by Mary Baker Eddy. Christian Scientists have found that following Jesus’ teachings and understanding the spiritual laws he practiced brings spiritual healing to their lives.

Do Christian Scientists worship Mary Baker Eddy?

Christian Scientists recognize her as the discoverer of Christian Science and the founder of the Christian Science church, but they don’t worship her. She herself stated, “...... follow your Leader only so far as she follows Christ.” (Message to The Mother Church for 1901, p. 34) Christian Scientists strive to put into practice the timeless truths of the Bible through study of the Bible along with the textbook she authored, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures.

Does a Christian Science church have a minister or pastor?

Yes. The founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, ordained the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures as the church’s “dual and impersonal” pastor. (Miscellaneous Writings 1883-1896, p. 322) Both books are read at weekly church services by two elected church members.

What is a Christian Science practitioner?

A practitioner is someone who dedicates their life to Christian healing. They provide spiritual help that results in healing of all types of difficulties—physical, emotional, relationship, financial. There are practitioners around the globe who are available at all hours of the day. For more information visit the Christian Science Practitioners webpage or reference the Practitioner Scope of Services document.

Is Christian Science the same thing as Scientology?

No, they are completely different. Scientology was founded in 1953 by L. Ron Hubbard, and its basis is the fulfillment of the human potential. The Christian Science church - the Church of Christ, Scientist - was founded in 1879 by Mary Baker Eddy, and its basis is the centrality of God meeting every human need. Learn more

Youth

What can youth do during a church service?

On Sundays, children and teens through the age of 19 can attend Sunday School. There, they learn about the Bible and Science and Health, and how to apply Christian Science in their daily lives. On Wednesdays, youth are invited to our Wednesday evening testimony meetings, where they may join with others in sharing what they have been learning and what healing experiences they have had. Children not quite ready to join Sunday School or Wednesday evening meetings are welcomed to the Nursery during services.

What other resources and activities are available to youth?

The Christian Science magazines regularly contain articles and healings written by or for youth. Christianscience.com’s youth section contains a robust collection of audio and video resources as well as information on youth summits held throughout the world. 

National, regional, and local activities are available year-round to youth of all ages, and several Christian Science camps offer summer programs for youth.

College students have the opportunity to participate in Christian Science Organizations where they can build community with like-minded thinkers at their school and think together about ways to share what they are learning with the community.

Church Services

What can I expect at a Sunday church service?

Sunday morning services are centered around a lesson sermon with a rotating list of subjects. The sermons consist of citations from The Holy Bible as well as complementary passages from the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy that further explain the subject. The services are conducted by a pair of Readers who are members of the church that are elected on a rotating basis. The Bible and the Christian Science textbook are our only preachers, and as such, our Readers prepare and share selections from the books rather than writing their own sermons or speaking extemporaneously – we find this keeps the message pure and uncontaminated by differing human opinions.

The Sunday service also includes singing several hymns from the Christian Science Hymnal, a song from a solo vocalist, and other musical interludes before and after the service that are all selected to support the subject of that week’s lesson. On any given Sunday, the same lesson sermon is read in every Christian Science church around the world, but each service is unique with the hymns and additional scriptural readings selected by the readers.

What can I expect at a Wednesday church service?

During Wednesday evenings Testimony Meetings, members of the congregation (either in person or online) are welcomed to share healings and comments on Christian Science. Testimonies often include examples of physical healings, solutions to challenges at work or in personal lives, sharing of gratitude, and/or inspiration the testifiers receive while praying and studying Christian Science. Like the Sunday Services, the Wednesday meetings also include hymns and selections read from The Bible and the Christian Science textbook. However, Wednesday readings are prepared by the First Reader and are often chosen to bring a spiritual perspective to topics in the community or occurring in the world.